Wall-mounted folding table

ABSTRACT

The wall-mounted folding table has a cabinet adapted for mounting on a wall. A table or workbench is enclosed in the cabinet and may be folded outwardly therefrom when desired. Gas springs are provided to assist in unfolding and folding the table. Telescopic legs and adjustable feet are utilized for varying the leg length. Sliding doors are employed as a space-saving function to open and close the cabinet. The sliding doors are fabricated from pegboard so that an array of tools can be hung thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to support structure, andparticularly to a wall-mounted folding table that is housed in acabinet.

2. Description of the Related Art

In many environments (condominiums, basement workrooms, dormitory rooms,etc.) space is at a premium, and furniture must be chosen that can beaccommodated in the usable space. In such instances foldable furniturehas been utilized in an attempt to more efficiently use the availablespace. Often, in such environments a workbench-type structure is neededfor supporting thereon materials and tools to be used for a particularendeavor (repair-project, hobby, etc.). Furthermore, the needed toolsare usually scattered about and must be found before the aforementionedendeavor can proceed. It would certainly enhance efficiency and effortif a compact workbench were available that could be folded for storagein a cabinet when not in use, and in which the cabinet would alsoinclude means for keeping tools in an orderly array. Thus, awall-mounted folding table solving the aforementioned problems isdesired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The wall-mounted folding table includes a cabinet adapted for mountingon a wall. A table or workbench is encompassed within the cabinet wallsand may be folded outwardly therefrom when desired. Gas springs areprovided to assist in unfolding and folding the table. Telescopic legsand adjustable feet are utilized for varying the leg length. Slidingdoors are employed instead of hinged doors as a space-saving function toopen and close the front of the cabinet. The sliding doors arcfabricated from pegboard so that an array of tools can be hung thereon.

Accordingly, the invention presents a wall-mounted cabinet that enclosesa table therein. A linkage system is attached to the table and cabinetto permit the table to be folded out of the cabinet for use and foldedinto the cabinet when not in use. Sliding doors close the cabinet whenthe table is folded therein for storage, All pivot points are providedwith nylon bushings to prevent metal-to-metal contact and thereby reducefriction. The invention provides for improved elements thereof in anarrangement for the purposes described that are inexpensive, dependableand fully effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.

These and other features of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a wall-mounted, foldingtable according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the wall-mounted, folding table of FIG. 1,shown in an unfolded position.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the wall-mounted, folding table of FIG. 1,shown in an unfolded position.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the wall-mounted, folding table of FIG. 1,shown in a folded position and with the cabinet doors open.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the wall-mounted, folding table of FIG. 1,shown in a folded position and with the cabinet doors closed.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistentlythroughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the wall-mounted folding table assembly,generally indicated at 10, comprises a cabinet 12 adapted for mountingon a planar wall surface. The cabinet 12 is preferably of rectangularconfiguration, having vertical and horizontal peripheral walls W. Itshould be noted that other configurations (hexagonal, octagonal, etc.)may be employed, if found suitable. The cabinet 12 is formed with anopen front and rear and is dimensioned to enclose a folded table Ftherein. A panel member P is provided to stabilize the table within thecabinet 12, when folded. Upper and lower rails 14 extend horizontallyand are coextensive with the width of the cabinet 12 at the open front.A pair of doors 16 is mounted on rails 14 for sliding movement thereon,thereby allowing the open front of the cabinet 12 to be selectivelyexposed or closed, as desired. The doors 16 are fabricated from pegboardto allow a plurality of tools T to be hung thereon in an orderly array.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the table F comprises a working surface20 having a rear end 20 a mounted for pivotal movement to a supportmember 22. The support member 22 is mounted to the cabinet 12 in anyconvenient and suitable manner. In folded position, the working surface20 will be oriented in a vertical position. When unfolded, the workingsurface 20 will be oriented in a horizontal position. Support legs 24are pivotally attached to the underside of working surface 20 adjacentthe front end 20 b thereof. A linkage system 26 functions to providestability for the working surface 20 and to insure that the legs 24remain perpendicular to the floor when the table F is in its unfoldedposition.

Referring to FIG. 2, each leg 24 incorporates a telescopic adjustablesection 24 a. Each section 24 a is provided at its lower end with anadjustable foot 28. This arrangement permits pre-adjustment to allow theworking surface to be mounted at either desk or workbench height.

A pair of gas springs 30 is provided to assist in raising and loweringthe working surface 20. A first end of each spring 30 is pivotallymounted to the support member 22. The second end of each spring 30 ispivotally mounted to the underside of the working surface 20. The assistprovided by the gas springs 30 requires a user to exert a forceequivalent to only 2 lbs. when unfolding the table F and 6 lbs. whenfolding the table F. The springs 30 also function to hold the table F ina vertical position when folded. A safety latch and handle 32 (shown inFIG. 4) is provided to facilitate operation of the assembly.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to theembodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodimentswithin the scope of the following claims.

1. A wall mounted folding table, comprising: a cabinet defining anenclosure, the cabinet being adapted for mounting on a planar wallsurface, the cabinet having an open front and an open rear; a tablehaving a front end, a rear end and an undersurface the rear end beingpivotally mounted to the cabinet. a pair of legs pivotally mounted tothe undersurface of the table closely adjacent the front end; a pair ofgas springs, each of the gas springs having a respective first end andsecond end, each of the first ends being pivotally mounted to theundersurface of the table, each of the second ends being pivotallymounted to the cabinet; and doors mounted on the cabinet for selectivelyopening and closing the open front of the cabinet.
 2. The wall-mountedfolding table according to claim 1, wherein each said leg has with arespective telescopic section.
 3. The wall-mounted, folding tableaccording to claim 1, wherein each said leg has a respective telescopicsection and of the telescopic sections has an adjustable foot.
 4. Thewall-mounted folding table according to claim 1, wherein said doors aremounted for sliding movement for selectively opening and closing theopen front of said cabinet.
 5. The wall-mounted folding table accordingto claim 1, wherein said doors are fabricated from pegboard.
 6. Awall-mounted folding table, comprising: a cabinet defining an enclosure,the cabinet being adapted for mounting on a planar wall surface, thecabinet having horizontal and vertical peripheral walls, an open rearand an open front; a support member mounted to the vertical peripheralwalls of the cabinet; a table having a front end, a rear end, a workingsurface and an undersurface, the rear end being pivotally mounted to thesupport member, the table having a first, folded position in which theworking surface is oriented in a vertical position, and a second,unfolded position in which the working surface is oriented in ahorizontal position; a pair of legs pivotally mounted to theundersurface of the table closely adjacent the front end of the table; apair of gas springs, each of the gas springs having a respective firstend and second end, each of the first ends being pivotally mounted tothe undersurface of the table and each of the second ends beingpivotally mounted to the support member; and a pair of doors mounted onthe cabinet for selectively opening and closing the open front of thecabinet.
 7. The wall-mounted folding table according to claim 6, whereineach said leg has a respective telescopic section.
 8. The wall-mountedfolding table according to claim 6, wherein said leg has a respectivetelescopic section and each of the respective telescopic sections has arespective adjustable foot.
 9. The wall-mounted folding table accordingto claim 6, wherein said doors are mounted for sliding movement forselectively opening and closing the open front of said cabinet.
 10. Thewall-mounted, folding table according to claim 6, wherein said doors arefabricated from pegboard.
 11. The wall-mounted folding table accordingto claim 6, further including a latch for securing said table in thefolded position.
 12. A wall-mounted folding table, comprising: a cabinetdefining an enclosure, the cabinet being adapted for mounting on aplanar wall surface, the cabinet having horizontal and verticalperipheral walls, an open rear and an open front; a support membermounted to the vertical peripheral walls of the cabinet; a table havinga front end, a rear end, a working surface and an undersurface, the rearend being pivotally mounted to the support member, the table having afirst, folded position in which the working surface is oriented in avertical position, and a second, unfolded position in which the workingsurface is oriented in a horizontal position; a pair of legs pivotallymounted to the undersurface of the table closely adjacent the front endof the table; a pair of gas springs, each of the gas springs having arespective first end and second end, each of the first ends beingpivotally mounted to the undersurface of the table and each of thesecond ends being pivotally mounted to the support member; a pair ofhorizontally positioned rails extending across the open front of thecabinet; and a pair of doors mounted on the pair of rails for slidingmovement thereon for selectively opening and closing the open front ofthe cabinet.
 13. The wall-mounted folding table according to claim 12,wherein each said leg has a respective telescopic section, each of therespective telescopic sections having a respective adjustable foot. 14.The wall-mounted folding table according to claim 12, wherein said doorsare fabricated from pegboard.
 15. The wall-mounted folding tableaccording to claim 12, further including a latch for securing said tablein the folded position.